Marshall Hails Cops Who Nabbed Child's Killers
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

Borough President Helen Marshall recognized six New York Police Department officers for outstanding work in the case of Genesis Regalado, who was murdered last July in Corona. Lieutenant Edward Rutter, Detective Thomas Nelan, Detective Ramon Munoz, Detective James Aspenleiter, Detective Fred Nocella and Detective James Vaughn, all of the 110th Precinct, were honored for the investigation and apprehension of the suspected shooter within days of the killing of the 11-year old girl.

"In Queens we are fortunate to have the best of New York's Finest," Marshall said at the November meeting of the Borough Cabinet, at which the officers were honored with citations. "Because of your determination, justice was swift and those allegedly responsible were apprehended."

Genesis Regalado was an honor student at I.S. 161. On the hot summer night of July 17, a bullet struck her while she was playing near an open hydrant outside her home on 99th Street and 55th Avenue.

Congratulating Supervising Officer Rutter, lead detectives Nelan and Munoz, and Aspenleiter, Nocella and Vaughn, Marshall said, "The alleged perpetrators were quickly apprehended. One suspect had left the country but was immediately returned."

Shortly after 11 p.m., five bullets were fired from a passing car, identified as a purple Honda. They were intended for Genesis' 16-year old brother, Jeffrey Regalado, according to a July 19 Newsday report. Genesis was sitting on her brother's lap when she was struck in the back of the head. She was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11:45 p.m.

The car was found and tracked to the mother of a 16-year old boy, who was driving at the time of the shooting, according to police in the Newsday report. Police were also able to determine that the alleged shooter had left for the Dominican Republic on a 6 a.m. flight the next day, July 18.

NYPD officers contacted air marshals on the flight and Dominican officials on the ground. Federal agents were waiting for Jeffrey Matista, 16, the alleged shooter,

as he left the plane in the Dominican Republic and he was promptly returned to New York.

After questioning by the team of officers at the 110th Precinct, Matista was charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a loaded gun and reckless endangerment by Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. The driver of the car was charged with hindering the prosecution of a suspect.

On July 20, Assemblymember Jose Peralta classified the shooting of Genesis Regalado as gang-related. According to the July 19 Newsday report, police said the shooting was the result of "ongoing tensions between two sets of teens-one that included Genesis' brother and his friends, and the other made up of a group from nearby Calloway Street."

Community Board 4 District Manager Richard Italiano said a street sign in memory of Genesis Regalado would be placed at 55th Avenue between 99th and 98th Streets.

"It's a reminder of the cost of violence and the young life that was taken," Marshall said.